Multi-use bucket

ABSTRACT

A structure and kit and method of use are disclosed of a plurality of interegaging panels forming a plurality of open-topped compartments, such structure adapted for positioning within a bucket for storage of objects, baited fish or seedlings therein.

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of the applicationentitled Tackle Bucket, Ser. No. 10/023,507 filed Dec. 20, 2001, nowpending.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The structure, kit and method of use of this invention reside inthe area of containers and more particularly relate to a containeremploying a five gallon bucket having a plurality of interlocking panelinserts engaged with one another therein, provided in the form of a kit,creating a plurality of upward facing openings for receipt of objectssuch as fishing tackle, bait fish or materials such as dirt andseedlings for planting.

[0004] 2. History of the Prior Art

[0005] Fishing tackle storage boxes are well known in the prior art.Some containers for fishing tackle are very large and expensive,incorporating complex arrangements for the storage of fishing tackle. Toreduce costs, fisherman often will reuse 5-gallon buckets which aregenerally obtainable without cost after their contents have been usedfor other purposes. Some inventions have been made relating to providingpluralities of trays stacked within such 5-gallon buckets such as taughtin U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,154,303 and 5,547,098 to Jordan. In U.S. Pat. No.5,970,651 to Torkilsen et al it is taught that such a fishing bucketmade from a converted utility bucket can have a lid for utilization as aseat. Multi-compartment seedling holders are also well known in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is an object of this invention to provide a structure in a kitform for use within a typical empty 5-gallon bucket or bucket to createtherein a plurality of upwardly facing openings for the receipt therein,in one embodiment, of larger types of fishing tackle and bait fish at avery low cost, especially in comparison to the cost of fishing tackleboxes marketed for holding large fishing lures and the like.

[0007] It is a further object of this invention that the conversion of a5-gallon bucket can be accomplished by constructing the panel members asprovided in a kit form and inserted into the bucket in a speedy andconvenient manner. In one embodiment the bucket and panels can haveapertures therein for water circulation therethrough so as toaccommodate live bait fish, already hooked, with a leader protrudingtherefrom with one bait fish disposed in each upwardly facing openingand the bucket held in an onboard bait tank.

[0008] It is yet a further object of this invention that such kit can bemade of inexpensive materials and sold to fishermen to allow for thereuse and conversion of preexisting 5-gallon containers once theiroriginal contents have been used. Such 5-gallon buckets are well known,such as originally containing paint, plaster, oil, food stuffs and thelike and are frequently obtainable without charge since they wouldotherwise be disposed of. However, any type of bucket or pail, even anew unused one, will suffice for the purposes of this invention.

[0009] It is a still further object of this invention to disclose amethod of use of such structure and kit.

[0010] In yet a further embodiment of this invention the panels can bebiodegradable and the upwardly facing openings filled with dirt and aseedling can be positioned in each opening such that the bucketcontents, being the biodegradable panels, dirt and seedling can bepositioned in the ground for planting where the panels will disintegrateover time. The bucket can then be reused.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the multi-use bucket andkit of this invention consisting of a plurality of panels held within abag-like container.

[0012]FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the plurality of panelsseparated from one another about to be engaged with one another.

[0013]FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the panels about to beassembled for insertion into a bucket.

[0014]FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a bucket with theassembled panels inserted therein.

[0015]FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the multi-use bucket ofthis invention with apertures defined in the bucket and panels for watercirculation to keep large bait fish alive, one in each upwardly facingopening.

[0016]FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the multi-use bucket ofthis invention containing plant seedlings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

[0017]FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of kit 10 of this inventionwith the eight panels described further below held within bag 12 orother type of containment means. Bag 12 can have a hang tab 14 at oneend thereof or other equivalent well-known structure so that the kit canbe hung on a display rack at the point of sale. The kit in a preferredembodiment is made up of eight panels having slots defined therein, asseen in FIG. 2, which panels are interengaged with one another asdescribed below. A center panel 20 which in area is shaped to be of asize to fit snugly within the central area of bucket 30, as seen inFIGS. 3 and 4, such that its sides taper inward from top to bottom at aslope consistent with that of the inward slope of the sides of thebucket. Central panel 20 has five upper slots 26A, 26B, 26C, 26D, and26E defined in its upper portion extending from its top verticallydownward at approximately one half the height of the panel with eachslot generally spaced equidistant from one another. Within upper slots26A-26E in center panel 20 are engagingly slid bottom slots 25A-25E,respectively, formed in the bottom of each of the five side panels16A-16E such that as each bottom slot 25A-25E engages center panel 20below the end of its respective upper slot 26A-26E, each side panel16A-16E will be substantially disposed at right angles to center panel20. The side panels have different widths with the widest disposedwithin the central upper slot 26C of the center panel 20 and the twonarrowest disposed in outer slots 26A and 26E of center panel 20. Sidepanels 16A-16E are of a width so as to also fit snugly within bucket 30with a taper along their outer sides to conform with the inward taper ofbucket 30. Slots 26A-26E can extend approximately halfway down centerpanel 20, and slots 25A and 25B can extend up approximately halfwaywithin the side panels so as to allow for the alignment and retention ofeach side panel by the sides of the respective slots 26A-26E of centerpanel 20 and of the retention of bottom slots 25 against the body ofcenter panel 20. Once the side panels have been inserted within theirrespective slots within center panel 20 and the tops of the side panelshave been aligned with the top of the center panel, the structure isfurther strengthened by the insertion of the first and second lateralpanels 18A and 18B which have upward extending slots in their bottomssuch as slots 24A-24E in first lateral panel 18A and slots 23A-23E insecond lateral panel 18B which are disposed to align with the downwardextending upper slots 22A and 22B in each of the side panels 16A and16E, respectively, such that slot 24A will align and engage with slot22B of first side panel 16A while slot 24B will align and engage withslot 22B of second side panel 16B, and so on. Upper slots 22A and 22B ofside panels 16A-16E extend down a distance approximately half the heightof the side panels, and slots 24A-24E and 23A-23E extend upwards fromthe bottom, respectively, of the first and second panels 18A and 18Bapproximately half the height of the panels such that when all of thepanels are interengaged with one another, their tops are aligned andform a structure that is generally tapered and is approximately the samesize and shape as the interior of bucket 30 and when inserted therein,as seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, form a plurality of openings 32 in whichdesired fishing gear such as fishing lure 34, shown in FIG. 3, can bepositioned extending down the length of opening 32 and retained at thetop thereof by the hook at the end of the fishing lure. Finger aperturessuch as apertures 42 seen in FIG. 2 can be formed in center panel 20 forease in grasping and lifting out, or lowering, panel array 28. A cover52 can be placed on top of bucket 30 above panel array 28 after it hasbeen assembled and inserted into the bucket which cover can further beutilized as seat 50, if desired. The panel structure of the kit of thisinvention can be disassembled for storage, if desired, and isinexpensive enough to be disposed of should it become foul-smellingafter extensive usage. The panels can be of a thickness of approximately⅛ inch and can be constructed of cardboard-like material, Masonite-typefiberboard, plastic or other material that is not substantially affectedby wetness. It should be further noted that other panels forming otherinterlocking arrangements of open apertures can also be utilized andfall within the spirit and scope of this invention. It should also benoted that the number of panels provided in the kit of this inventioncan vary from the eight panels discussed above and still fall within thescope and spirit of this invention.

[0018] In an alternate embodiment seen in FIG. 5 bucket 30 and thepanels can be provided with a plurality of apertures 60 to allow waterflow therethrough. Bucket(s) 30 can be stored in an onboard boat waterbait tank; and bait fish, such as fish 62, can be stored in eachupwardly facing opening with leaders 64 protruding therefrom. Suchbuckets can also be stored in tanks on shore or used by placing thebuckets in a body of water, such as a lake. This type of bait fishstorage provides to a fisherman live, pre-hooked large bait fish. Thefisherman needs only to attach leader 64 to his fishing line and throwthe bait fish 62 overboard to commence fishing.

[0019] In yet another embodiment of this invention, as seen in FIG. 6,panels 70 can be composed of biodegradable material and have fertilizer,pesticides, weed killers or herbicides incorporated therein. In use,dirt can be positioned in openings 74 with one or more seedlings 76planted in each opening. One can remove the entire panel structurecontaining the dirt and seedlings and plant it. The panels willdisintegrate over time as the seedlings grow.

[0020] Although the present invention has been described with referenceto particular embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in theart that variations and modifications can be substituted thereforwithout departing from the principles and spirit of the invention.

We claim:
 1. A structure for use in a bucket for storage of objects,comprising: a plurality of interengaging panels for insertion withinsaid bucket, said interengaging panels defining a plurality of openingsbetween said panels for receipt of said objects therein wherein saidpanels include a center panel having a top and a plurality of slotsvertically defined therein extending downward from said top; a pair oflateral panels, each having a top and a bottom, disposed one on eachside of said center panel, said lateral panels each having a pluralityof slots defined in the bottom thereof extending vertically upward; aplurality of side panels each having a top and bottom, said tops havinga pair of upper slots extending vertically downward defined in said topsthereof, said side panels adapted to engage said first and secondlateral panels, respectively, and said bottom having a plurality ofbottom slots defined respectively therein adapted to engage saidplurality of slots in said center panel such that said panels whenassembled form a panel array structure having a plurality of upperfacing rectangular openings, said assembled panel array structure forinserting in said bucket, said openings forming a plurality ofcompartments each having an open top for receipt of objects to be storedtherein; and wherein said bucket and panels have a plurality ofapertures defined therein for allowing water flow therethrough.
 2. A kitfor the conversion of a bucket into a storage container, comprising: aplurality of panels having slots defined therein for interengagementwith one another forming a plurality of upward opening apertures definedbetween said panels when said panels are inserted into a bucket, saiddisassembled panels grouped together and provided as a kit wherein saidpanels include a center panel having a top and a plurality of slotsvertically defined therein extending downward from said top; a pair oflateral panels, each having a top and a bottom, disposed one on eachside of said center panel, said lateral panels each having a pluralityof slots defined in the bottom thereof extending vertically upward; anda plurality of side panels each having a top and bottom, said topshaving a pair of upper slots extending vertically downward defined insaid tops thereof, said side panels adapted to engage said first andsecond lateral panels, respectively, and said bottom having a pluralityof bottom slots defined respectively therein adapted to engage saidplurality of slots in said center panel such that said panels whenassembled form a panel array structure having a plurality of upperfacing rectangular openings, said assembled panel array structure forinserting in said bucket, said openings forming a plurality ofcompartments each having an open top for receipt of objects to be storedtherein; and wherein said bucket and panels have a plurality ofapertures defined therein for allowing water flow therethrough.
 3. Astructure for use in a bucket for storage of seedlings, comprising: aplurality of interengaging panels for insertion within said bucket, saidinterengaging panels defining a plurality of openings between saidpanels for receipt of said seedlings therein wherein said panels includea center panel having a top and a plurality of slots vertically definedtherein extending downward from said top; a pair of lateral panels, eachhaving a top and a bottom, disposed one on each side of said centerpanel, said lateral panels each having a plurality of slots defined inthe bottom thereof extending vertically upward; a plurality of sidepanels each having a top and bottom, said tops having a pair of upperslots extending vertically downward defined in said tops thereof, saidside panels adapted to engage said first and second lateral panels,respectively, and said bottom having a plurality of bottom slots definedrespectively therein adapted to engage said plurality of slots in saidcenter panel such that said panels when assembled form a panel arraystructure having a plurality of upper facing rectangular openings, saidassembled panel array structure for inserting in said bucket, saidopenings forming a plurality of compartments each having an open top forreceipt of objects to be stored therein; and wherein said panels arebiodegradable and said openings can contain dirt for the planting of oneor more seedlings in each opening.
 4. A kit for the conversion of abucket into a planter, comprising: a plurality of panels having slotsdefined therein for interengagement with one another forming a pluralityof upward opening apertures defined between said panels when said panelsare inserted into a bucket, said disassembled panels grouped togetherand provided as a kit wherein said panels include a center panel havinga top and a plurality of slots vertically defined therein extendingdownward from said top; a pair of lateral panels, each having a top anda bottom, disposed one on each side of said center panel, said lateralpanels each having a plurality of slots defined in the bottom thereofextending vertically upward; a plurality of side panels each having atop and bottom, said tops having a pair of upper slots extendingvertically downward defined in said tops thereof, said side panelsadapted to engage said first and second lateral panels, respectively,and said bottom having a plurality of bottom slots defined respectivelytherein adapted to engage said plurality of slots in said center panelsuch that said panels when assembled form a panel array structure havinga plurality of upper facing rectangular openings, said assembled panelarray structure for inserting in said bucket, said openings forming aplurality of compartments each having an open top for receipt of objectsto be stored therein; and wherein said panels are biodegradable and saidopenings can contain dirt for the planting of one or more seedlings ineach opening.
 5. The structure of claim 3 wherein said panels includeadditional ingredients in their composition selected from the group offertilizers, pesticides and herbicides.
 6. The kit of claim 4 whereinsaid panels include additional ingredients in their composition selectedfrom the group of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides.